Officer Elf: "Humans...you have returned from the stars... But your world is gone and you with it. You corrupted and destroyed it... But Tyrant, in his infinite goodness, gave you the grace to survive.

You now occupy the lands of King Phileas, the king of these lands that belong to us.

We come in peace today but I see that you trade with the ungodly dwarves and abominations that are the Kobolds.

These lands are cursed and you will meet your doom by staying here.

The elven people are willing to take you in and we promise you freedom and safety.

Stay here and suffer the fury of the hydra...

The chancellor came closer to the elf...

"We don't understand... we were saved by the robots... we owe them our lives..."

The elf sneered. "Your Village... it's a great larder... Open your eyes before it's too late. You are surrounded by monsters... And your fairy..."

Bello grabs Sarah's arm to get her to step back, and not to come within sword range of the rider.

Sarah:" Waspy???"

"Much elf blood has been spilled.... the longer you wait, the more likely you are to die.. but also you sadden us. Your weapons are toys and when you realize it's too late... you will be devoured... Do not delude yourselves... This village is a human farm. When the dragons come, it will be too late. It is a life of cattle that awaits you."

He climbed back into his saddle and greeted the humans, then rode south again. He dropped a map with the red crosses and the path to the elven and gnome cities.

The elves had been more subtle and had succeeded in their mission: to sow seeds of doubt.

Bello then began walking outside the village with Sarah... the map in hand.

"Sarah, I know it's still tense between us but I'm not responsible for Henry's death.."

"I know, John, I know...but it's hard..."

He sighed, "My sixth sense, my sense of danger is at its peak...I don't know anymore but I'm sure we're under constant surveillance. They have cameras but different, This Hans has a different technology, unknown. Everything he has done defies belief."

Sarah "I know, you're right, I too feel like I'm being watched, monitored, yet with everything that's happened, we can believe, we can dream. Besides, we don't know anything about elves, gnomes or fairies... And they know Waspy. They talk about monsters..."

Bello (His name is John Bello): "They are different creatures from us, very different and we have to give them a chance too... "

Sarah: "We should go visit the elf cities..."

"No... he dropped that map on purpose. He's a hardened military man, an elite soldier among elites, and he shows great wisdom. I think he wants us to go see the villages."

"What if it's a trap?? to kidnap us...?"

"It's a risk we have to take... "

Sarah: "But how will the Kobolds and Hans react? Kate seemed so nice. By the way, we have to have dinner with her tonight in the presence of the Dwarf King... Cranedur, I think."

Bello laughed..." At least his name isn't Coumou..."

Sarah smiled and heard a waspish roar...

Waspy landed beside them, out of breath but smiling.

"Are you all right? I heard from your men that elves had arrived at the gates of the Village and I have come to defend you..."

She did so while curling her lips. This did not fail to surprise Sarah.

She crouched down to be at the level of the little fairy.

"Thank you little fairy...but we are fine..."

Waspy: "What did they want?"

She looked at Bello as if to question him with her eyes.

He nodded his head.

Sarah: "He said we are in King Phileas' land and we should leave this monster-infested place..."

Waspy sighed. "Yes... they are smart... they know our weapons and are wary. They're resorting to trickery now. But they still have good taste...Ah yes uh no good, well bad ideas.."

Sarah met Bello's staring eyes.

Waspy: "Take care of yourself anyway. You are precious. I mean our master, our guide, Carnag, uh... Hans Car... Hans Reinhardt is very fond of you and he was like you before. ahh uhhh well Kate.. my maitr.. Friend... Bzzz.. I mean.. she loves you very much.. She cries all the time. Ah . sorry, I shouldn't have said that.... BZZZ BZZZ were doing her wings...Well.. uh, I'll play here..."

Sarah : "You are so cute.... and who are you going to play with?

Waspy: "Uh... In the swamp.... I'm going to tease the raptors... and the sharpies and ... and then hunt the fruits of the forest for a while..."

Sarah: "That's interesting.... And we could come and play with you???"

Waspy:" BZZZ BZZZ (Did her wings when she tried to lie...) AH, uh... yes... once. We'll play hide and seek..."

Sarah: "It's hide-and-seek??? "

"Mmm, I hide and you try to find me...and then...I'll be the one chasing you and you'll try to escape me...but I win a lot.."

Brrrrr... Star lands near Waspy thanks to his propeller set.

"Kate would like to see you... Excuse us, Captain..."

Waspy looked relieved... negotiation was not her forte... She flew away waving her hand, while following Star in the air who had left like any good drone.

The two humans looked at each other.

"What is this story...??"

"You saw... every time she made a mistake, her wings whirred...

Hans is her master and she almost said it several times and Kate looks unhappy... They are hiding something from us... and this Kabal... These robots that fall on us and know exactly where we are... "

Sarah "I know you're not paranoid, but I'm afraid... "

"For now, there's nothing to worry about but we have to stay vigilant. We need to know our neighbors first before we draw any conclusions."

"What do you think of the situation, John..?" And the next thing she knew she was in the arms of the "Sheriff."

"They are at war, not us... and a military war exists first between spies and secret forces. And these elves are the glaring example.

It's an empire they have and they have all the resources that go with it. And, I'm afraid, maybe, but ... I can't judge yet. It's too early. You have to talk to this Hans and then see what his authority is, and what his right and powers are. And who he really is. A priest?? a Guide? A dictator??? We don't know anything about them but we haven't seen any other human. It's sad to say, but the elves are the closest thing to us.

They were getting closer to the electric drawbridge and the 2 defense turrets.

Bello: "We'll talk about it in the forest... we must be listened to and spied on..."

Back at the main hall the guards took their instructions and a military council took place after the visit of the elven estafettes.

General Mondeville: "Captain, Chancellor... "and all the officers rose to salute them.

"You have given us a rather amazing report, but as you all know, we owe our lives to our benefactor Hans Reinhardt and his team. But at the moment we are also wondering under whose authority he is acting, even though he is our benefactor, and how this will work. We know that he is a scientist but this is our land, our world by right and we are at home! Home!!!! and not Hans'..."

The humans applauded

"But it is too early to draw conclusions and our main goal is to survive and rebuild our world..."

Sarah: "I recognize the soldier in you, General Mondeville, and I think the word "war" adds motivation to your drive, but first of all, there are no direct threats and we must think before we act. And that's where politics comes in. We need to know who our friends are first and who our enemy is or what creature or threat is a danger to us."

There was a knock at the door and it was Kobolds wanting to bring drinks...

"Thank you, Kobolds... but later..." and the door remained closed.

Meanwhile, in the temple within my base, further north, the darkness...

At the bottom of a nest. eggs were cracking and Kate was excited.

At first, there was a cracking sound, then a small claw pierced the egg. The second, then the third...

Round eyes looked at the stars and the huge celestial bodies cracked vertically.

Kate could not see them but the Destroyer was watching the birth of our children... The first earth dragons.

The ground did not move, as if we were still in the room, but we were in the palm of ENKA... of the celestial hydra.

I was proud to show mother her little children...

Enka entered Kate's head for the first time: "My child, this is a beautiful gift you are offering me... You cannot see me or feel me, but know that you have my protection and so do your children."

I then wrapped my front paws around Kate and kissed her.

"They are beautiful but so fragile..."

Kate: "Is that your mom? in my head?"

"Yes, she is the mother of all dragons... She watches over us..."

Then the impregnation was done and we washed the small frail dragons.

There was a white, a red and a pink one. But it was impossible to know what sex they were without hurting them. It didn't matter.

Our first reaction was to tell the humans the good news, but it was silly and too soon. King Cranedur, on the other hand, had the honor of seeing the pups for the first time in our arms (paws).